France Recalls an Apple Juice over Excess Patulin, a Mycotoxin from Fruit Molds

The French public recall portal RappelConso posted on November 2, 2026 the recall of an apple juice in 1-liter bottles due to an excessively high level of patulin. The product, which is stored at room temperature, bears the date June 1, 2028 on the cap and was sold throughout metropolitan France between June 2 and September 18, 2026.

The notice classifies patulin as a biological contaminant and states that daily consumption of high doses may have harmful health effects. It asks consumers to stop consuming the product, which can be exchanged at the point of sale.

Patulin is a mycotoxin produced by molds, mainly Penicillium expansum, that grow on bruised, damaged or rotten apples and pears. It is heat-stable, so juice pasteurization does not eliminate it: control lies in the raw material, with sorting and discarding of damaged fruit before pressing and good storage conditions. European regulations set a maximum level of 50 micrograms per kilogram in fruit juices and 10 micrograms per kilogram in foods for infants and young children.

For juice and cider producers, the case is a reminder that the quality of the fruit entering the process is the critical point against patulin, and that it should be verified by chemical analysis of the product. TAAG's catalog does not include an assay for patulin or other mycotoxins, so no kit is proposed for this case; its quantification is a matter for chemical laboratory methods.